Fare-register.



No. 842,476. y PATBNTBD JAN. 29, 1907. W. L. LIGHTPORD.

FARB REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.2.1906.

2 SEBBTS-SHEBI' 1.

No. 842,476. PATENTBD JAN. 29, 1907. W. L. LIGHTFORD.

PARE REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. 1906.

2 SHEETS*SHEBT 2.

A said chute.

IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4WILLIAM L. LIGIITFORD, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN O. SLOAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

FARE-REGSTER.,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application led February 2, 1906. Serial No. 299.124.

To raf/ZZ wir/ont it may con/ecrit.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. LIGHT- FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in. the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fare Registers and Counters, of which the following is a specification'.

This invention relates to a fare-register provided with mechanism for the collection and registration of fares received on interurban lines where the fares vary according to the distance traveled, and is also provided with mechanism for the registration of fares which are received when such cars enter cities and are compelled to travel over the right of way of another line holding exclusive privileges on which uniform fares are charged and to whom an accounting is necessary of the number of passengers carried in order that a contractual division of fares can be made.

The object of this invention consists in a neat and convenient fare-register, that is passed by the conductor to the passengers for the depositing of fares therein, which will receive and count fares of any denomination, and which is also arranged to register and count the number of fares collected.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved fare-register. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the register as seen from the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the register as seen from the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the upper portion of the register in vertical section as seen. from the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal transverse section as seen from the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section as seen from the dotted line 6 6 in Fig. 2, this ligure being tilted to one side in order to show the manner in which the wings in the coin-chute close Fig. 7 is a top or plan view of the register. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail in elevation of the upper end of the pinion and supporting standard and shows the means for limiting the movement of said pinion.

In the drawings, l represents the body of the fare-register, which is of a convenient shape and size and is provided with a handle 2, by which the same may be carried during the period of time of collecting the fares. The register consists of an inner frame comprising a top 3 and the side wall 4, to which the handle 2 is secured, and of the horizontal p artition-wall 5. This inner frame forms a housing for the recording mechanism and is secured to the body I in any suitable and convenient manner. The register is provided with a coin-chute 7, which passes from the exterior of the register to and communicates with the coin-chamber 8, which is located in the bottom of the body l. The coin-chute 7 is secured within the inner frame and has the external mouthpiece that communicates with the upper end of said chute. The mouthpiece is provided with transparent walls 9, so that when the passenger deposits a fare therein its character may be determin ed by both the conductor and the passenger, and in case the fare so paid is undesirable the register may be inverted and the coin removed before it is permitted to pass into the coin-chute.

The passage of a coin through the coinchute 7 is controlled by means of the slides l() and il. The slide vl0 is mounted on the under side of the top 3 and normally stands across the opening in the coin-chute 7, so that the coin deposited in the mouthpiece of the register 'will temporarily be supported by said slide. IWhen said slide is operated, the coin will drop into the chute 7. The means for actuating said slide will be hereinafter described. The slide 11 is'slidably mounted on the horizontal partition-wall 5 and normally stands removed from the coin-chute 7, so to leave the latter free from obstruction. The slides l() and l1 are moved in opposite directions, so that 'when the slide l() is removed from the opening of the upper end of the coin-chute the slide l1 closes the lower end thereof. This movement of the slides is accomplished by means of a lever 15, which engages the pockets 16 and 17, integrally formed with the slides l() and 11. The lever 15 is pivcted at 1Q to a standard 20, which is secured to the top. The pivot-point of the lever l5 is above its center, so that the lower end of said lever and the slide l1 are moved a greater distance than the upper slide 10, i the diversity of movement between the slides IOO being sul'licient to permit the slide l1 to close the coin-chute before the slide l() opens the upper end of said chute, so that at no time will said chute 7 befree and unobstructed. A lever 22 connects with the lever 15, which extends to and engages the cross-bar 2S that ties the bell-cranks 25 and 26 together. The bell-cranks 25 and 26 are arranged to workin unison and are operated by means of a shoulder 30 on the sliding-bar 29, which engages the upper end of the bell-crank 25. rlhe sliding-bar 29 is provided with a linger-button 35, by 'which the same is operated, and said bar is held in its raised or normal position by means of a spring 36 at its lower end. Thus it will be seen that when the slidingbar 29 is depressed Athe position of the lever l5 and the slides l() and 1l are changed, permitting a coin previously deposited in the mouthpiece of the register to pass down and lodge on the lower slide ll, from which it passes into the coin-chute when the parts return to normal. When a coin is deposited., an alarm is also sounded, denoting the depositing of a coin, together with the proper acting of the mechanism. rllhis is accomplished by means of a bell 3S, suitably located 'within the inner frame and is provided with a bell-tapping lever 43, which is pivotally mounted on a standard 40, secured to the coin-chute 7. A lever 42 extends from the bell-crank 26 to and engages the lower end of the bell-tapping lever 43. The lower end of the lever 42 is slotted, so that the belltapping lever 43 is not affected until the slid.- ing-bar 29 is partially depressed. The lever 42 is also provided with a pawl 45, which engages the pin 46 on the bell-tapping lever 43, moving said lever so that the upper end will be moved away from the bell and at a certain point will release said lever, permitting` the latter to be quickly drawn toward. and strike the bell under the influence of a spring 48. lith the operation of the sliding bar 29, which permits a fare to be deposited as well as sounding a signal to that effect, I also operate a register to count and record the amount of the fare deposited. This is one of the chief features of my invention and will now be described.

rlhe device is provided with a suitable disk register 55, which is secured to the under side of the top, the latter being provided with an inspection-aperture 56, (see Fig. 7 through which the total on the counter may be read. This counter is arranged not to count the number of fares registered, butthe amount of fares collected, and is particularly applicable for interurban trains where fares are charged that correspond to the distances traveled by the passengers. The counter 55 is provided with a main shaft 5S, which is provided with a pinion 59. A pinion 60, suitably supported by means of a standard 6l, meshes with the pinion 59. The pinion may be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in VFig. 2 by means of a milledhead thumb-nut 62, which projects out through the side of the body 1. lfhc body l is provided with a gra(luating-seale 63, through which the neck'64 of the thumb-nut 62 projects, and the latter is provided with ay pointer 65, which normally stands at Zero. As shown in the drawings, the scale 63 is arranged so that a. fare of three dollars may be recorded with one rotation of the pinion 60. lt will be understood, however, that said scale may be changed so as to include those numbers that are sullicient to register the largest amount of fare likely to be collected from a passenger on the line. lrhen the pinion 6() is rotated, the Apinion 59 is also rotated, which in turn rotates the proper disks ol.l the counter 55. Thus it will be seen during this initial movement of the counter it has added and charged the amount regtere/d. against the conductor, and it now behooves him to see that the amount of fare registered is deposited. When the pinion 60 has been rotated so that the pointer 65 will point over the amount of fare desired, the lparts are prevented from returning to norm al vby means of a pawl 68, which engages the teeth of the pinion. 59. Said pawl is held in. contact with said pinion by means of a spring 7 0. 'lhe pinion. 60 is provided with a spring 71, one end of which is secured to the hub of said pinion and the other end to the framework of the register. When the pinion is moved so that the pointer 65 will point to the amount of fare desired, and after said. amount is deposited by the passenger into the mouthpiece of the register, the sliding bar 29 is depressed, which disengages the pawl 68 from the pinion 59 by means of a transverse pin 72, mounted on said bar. yThe pinions 59 and 60 being under the influence of the spring 7], the tension of which is increased when` the pinion 6() is rotated, are returned to normal by the means of the uncoiling of said spring. The movei'nent of the pinion 6() is limited by means of a shoulder 75, formed on. the standard 61 and by means of a corresponding shoulder 78, formed on said pinion.

'the description so far has been confined to that mechanism which iseinplo'yed in registering the arious amounts of fares collected on lines of common ,arriers wherein fares are charged. according to the distances traveled by the passengers. yi`hc present description will be conlined to that portion ofthe register that is employed by the conductor when collecting uniform fares, which is a con'nnon practice where a carrier passes over the right of way of another carrier having exclusive privileges and where a uniform fare is charged In providing for the counting and classification of the uniform fares collected l provide mechanism which cons ts of a secondary sliding bar 80, mounted adjacent to and.

IOO

parallel with the sliding bar 29. lhis har provided With a linger-button Sl, and held in its raised or normal position by means ot :i spring S2, coiled around the lower end. ther eot. The sliding har S0 is provided with integrally-'tornied shoulder 84, which engages and actuates the hell-crank 26, which, as hciiore mentioned in the specilication, moves simultaneously With the hell-'crank 25 hy means ol the cross-har 28. struction it will oe noted that the sliding-har S0, through the lever 22 and the vertical iever l5, operates the slides l() and l l. in other Words, it may he stated that the sliding loar 8O operates the slides l0 and` vll through the same mechanism and in the saine mann c r as the sliding har 29 operates them. When the sliding har SO is depressed, the hell 38 is sounded through the same mechanism dcscrihed tor their operation in connection with the sliding bar 29. l also provide a countt 85 to count, in this instance, the iiuinlier er uniform 'fares collected. yThis counter is secured to the top 3 in a manner similar to the counter 55. 1Vv'hen the sliding liar t3() is depressed, a shoulder 86, rigidly secured thereto, actua-tes a crank SS, secured. tc a rockshal't 89. The rock-shaft 8l) is provided with a crank 90 on the opposite end, which engages and actuates the counter S5 at each depression ot said sliding har SO. Vthe sliding har is arranged in relation to the counter that at the slightest depression ol the former the latter will he operated and thus add a tare, Which'niust he accounted lor. This initial movement ot the counter takes place in advance to the opening ot the coinchute .l0 or, in tact, any ot the other mechanism, aiid the intent ot this arrangement is to avoid mistakes and abuses.

lhile it is ol great importa ce to m'ovide a register that Will insure a sate and accurmethod lor the collection and registration olI fares, it is oli equal importance to provide mechanism that will prevent the money collected 'from heing siirreptitiously removed from the register. ject in view l provide the coin-chute T ivith a plurality of Wings 90, which are pivotally secured therein and near the top ol said chute. These wings will drop to the lower side ol the chute When the register is tilted or inverted, thereby closing the opening in the chute and prevent the coin vtrom hein g through same. l also provide the registri with a secondary precautionary inc-ans, which consists ol a series ol Ylingers Q3, mounted in a pivotal manner on a rod .Ci-l on each side and parallel with the discharge endoltlie coin-chute 7. The lingers 9123 are stage@ -l with relation to the Ylingers on the opposite side ot the coin-chiite, and when the register is tilted or inverted the Vlii'igers will lap cach other as they liall across and close the opening leading into the coin-chiite rllie ll'j," this con-l regis try fr.)

movement ot the lingers Q3, it will he noted, is in a right-angle direction with relation to the movement ol` the viiiigs Slt), mounted Within the chute. rElms it will he seen that equipping a register with these safety devices coin cannot he removed through the coinclinte '7, no nzatter into what direction the regis' is tilted or inv 1"ed Laying thus lY llj described my said invention, what i desire to secure hy Letters Patent ol the Unite Vl Sta isw l Vlare-register comprising a coiii-receplacie, a coin-chute leading to said receptacle, saliet `lide means adai'ited to move transver across said chute, means 'lor operating said liety-slidc means in opposite directions, a coi'inter, a counter-setting means for said counter, retaining means Vl"or holding the parts all -i the counter is set, means to release said setting means, and means lor rcstoring all the parts, excepting the counter, to normal.

2. lare-register comprising a coin-receptacle, a coin-chiite leading t-o said receptacle, a plurality ol slides lor opening and closing the coin-chute, a lever engaging the slides, a vertical sliding liar Vl'or operating the slides, means Alier connecting the lever and vertical sliding har together, a counter7 a connter-setting means Ylor setting the counter, stop means lor holding the setting means in given posi tions, an operating slide-har extending to the exterior tor releasing the stop means, and a restoring means l'or restoring the parts to normal.

i. Si. `l"are-register comprising a coin-receptacle, a coin-chute leading to and communicating with said receptacle, slides inovahly mounted in the register and adapted to close and open the coni-chute, a counter, means extending externally oll the register .lor setting said counter, a stop device Vl'or holding the parts when the counter is set, and a singe operating means extending externally of the reg er lor moving lioth slides and Vlor releasing the lounter-setting mechanism.

el. A lare-register comprising a coiii-receptacle, a coin-chute leading to and communicating vvitli said receptacle, slides niovalily mounted in the register and adapted to close and open thel coin-chute, a counter, means extending externally ol" the i "'ster tor setting said counter, a stop devi( lor holding the parts when the co unter is set, a single operating means extending externally ot the tor moving hoth slides and lor releasing the counter-setting mechanism, and restoring means to restore the parts to normal.

5. fr lare-register comprising a coin-receptacle, a coin-clnite leading to and communicating Willi said receptacle, slides movably mounted in the register and adapted to close and open the coin-chute, a counter, means extending externally ol the register 'lor setting said counter, a stop device for holding the parts When the counter is set, a single operating means extending externally of the register for moving both slides and for releasing the counter-setting mechanism, restoring means to restore the parts to normal, a bell, a bell-striking mechanism, and a single operating means extending externally of the register for actuating said bell-striking mechanism.

6. A are-register comprising a coin-receptacle, a coin-chute leading to and communieating With said receptacle, slides movably mounted in the register and adapted to close and open the coin-chute, a counter, means extending externally of the register for setting said counter, a stop device for holding the parts when the counter is set, a bell, a bell-striking mechanism, a single operating means extending externally of the register' for moving both slides, releasing the countersetting mechanism and actuating the bellstriking mechanism, and restoring means for restoring the parts to normal.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my `hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 26th day of January, A. D. 1906.

WM. L. LIGHTFORD. [in s] Vitnesses:

F. W. WOERNER, L. HELMUTH. 

